Take the curse off Jordan Leopold!

ANAHEIM – I must admit, it takes a lot to shock me anymore in this business, but today it happened when Joel Quenneville passed on the news that Jordan Leopold was hurt again.
This guy played in 156 of the previous 164 games with Calgary before being traded to the Avs last year. Since then, he’s been healthy for 25 of 115 games with Colorado.

Just a few days after returning from his latest long-term injury, down he goes again after a freakish injury – then re-injury – of a laceration to his thigh originally suffered from an errant skate blade in practice from teammate Ben Guite.

The Curse of the Bambino apparently has been transferred to Jordan Leopold. Therefore, being a long time, previously suffering Red Sox fan, I suggest the following to Leopold to call off the gods of wrath when he comes back:

– Expect the worst – or at least complete and total mediocrity from life – and just be pleasantly surprised if it turns out a little bit better. This works well for me.
For instance, tonight I went to a national steakhouse chain for dinner because it was pouring out and I didn’t want to walk far. I expected bad service and mediocre food, and the fact that I got only slightly better than bad service made it a winning night for me.

I expected a quick, insincere greeting from the hostess and I was rewarded. I expected a noisy table near the kitchen and I was not disappointed. I expected the entree to be served too fast after getting the salad – served by someone other than my waiter, something I never understand – and they came through with flying colors. I expected the food to taste hastily prepared and I got just that.

Only the waiter’s earnest attention and compliance to have a dessert served in a half-size portion (and price) made me feeling like dancing a jig out the door, feeling like Gene Kelly Singin’ in the Rain.

I suggest, when Leopold comes back, to saying something like this to the media:
“First of all, don’t stand too close to me. I have just petitioned Gary Bettman, and he has agreed to let me replace the Avalanche logo on my sweater with that of a black cat. I would write this statement out to you guys, but I was afraid I would sprain my index finger and be out a month.
“I am here to announce that, while I am back for a few games, I am looking forward to finding out how I will next be sidelined. Because, we all know it’s going to happen. While I know I have a long way to go to catch Peter Forsberg at the top of the Avalanche’s “Most Numerous and Freakish Injury” leaders, I am confident that I can eventually get there. Thank you, and see you back on the injured list soon!”

Maybe if he said something like that, the curse would lift. Every other time, Leopold has faced questions from reporters who good-naturedly knocked on wood, with answers like, “Yeah, it’s good to be back. Looking forward to getting some games under my belt and getting back to full speed.”

Nowhere to go but down with that attitude. My way, and you can’t lose. You can either say, “Told you so” when the next injury happens, or, if not, feel like Gene Kelly.

Adrian Dater’s latest book, “Denver Broncos: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” is available at bookstores and online at Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

His best-selling “Blood Feud: Detroit Red Wings v. Colorado Avalanche: The Inside Story of Pro Sports’ Nastiest and Best Rivalry of its Era” is available at the same locations.